UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY UNDERWATER TABLE OF CONTENTS SPELEOLOGY NEWS The officitll publication c! the c..- Diving 3 Geologic Cataclysm Takes Cave Diver's Life Section cf the NatDwd s~ Socidy, Inc. 3 Parker Thrner: In Memoriam Dennis P.O. Box 950 • Branford. FL 32008-0950 - Williams 6 Lost Back Issues Available 12 Notice to Instructors Editor: H. V. GREY 15 Cave Diving Manual P.O. Box 12 • Nokomis, Fl. 34274-0012 16 UWS receives NSS Graphic Arts Salon Honorable Mention (813) 484-~ • (813) 484-6665 (fax) EXPLORATION Board of Directors 8 A Sinkhole Cave In - Eduxmi Stoner Chahman: FRANK HOWARD 11 The World's Longest Underwater 334 Portico 0. • 0\esterfiBd, MO 63017 Cave Passages - Oliver Knab (314) 469-6133. 542..(838 (fax) 12 A Week in the Footsteps of Martel - Wlliam R. HJ11liday, M.D. Vice-Olairman: MARK UONARD Rl14, Box 136 • Lake Gty, Fl. 32ffi5 SAFETY (904) 752-100 6 The Safety Line - \\billy Sfwrl 1teasurer. BILL FOOTE 7 Recovery Team Area Coordinators - Capt. Henry Nicholscm 1433 5.E. 8th St. • Ocala, Fl. 32671 (904) 622-3488 BOOK REVIEW 10 The Darkness Seaetary: H. V. GREY Beckons - Bill Mixon See oontact infonnation above HUMOR 1hlining Chairman: JOE PROSSER 15 On the Lighter Side: 7400 N.W. 55th St. • Miami. Fl. 33166 "Commando Diver Specialty"' - Steoe Berman (:15) 592~146 (bus) • ~19 (res) (~) 593-2225 (fax) FRONT COVER ART Leadership Coontinator: DAN LlNs 1 By Joanna Florio-Jefferys 916 S.W. 13th Ave. • Ocala. Fl. 32671 (904) 6'BJJ749
Director Copyright at Large: JIM BoWDEN C 1991 by the Cave aving Section of the Natim.al SpEleological Society, Inc. All rip re!II!!Ved. No portion P.O. Box 49461 • Austin. TX 7ffl65 of ttis publicatim may be repoduced without writtm penrission of the NS&
2 • UNOORWATIR ~ • Vol. 18, No. 6 • Nowmber/Docember, 1991 GEOLOGIC CATACLYSM TAKES CAVE DIVER'S LIFE
n the evening of Sunday, No that the level of the basin (the size of a the decompression bottles or being 0 vember 17, veteran cave-diving small lake) dropped fully a foot in only found by the decompressing divers explorer and NACO instructor Parker 15 minutes. (Under normal conditions, who had gone back into the cave in the Turner (NSS #27953) died as the result Indian Springs is a 5th magnitude low visibility to search for them. of what is believed to have been a mas spring and empties out into a small It is believed that Turner removed sive geological disturbance deep in the creek. In more than 15 years of being his tanks and pushed them ahead of Woodville karst-plain area, which cave dived, it has never been known to him in order to try to negotiate the resulted in the sudden and extremely syphon, and has not been considered an restriction. Only the extreme ex forceful reversal of Indian Springs near unstable system.) perience, skill and level-headedness of Tallahassee, Aorida and disturbed the A wide, but fairly low bedding both divers allowed them to successful River Sinks system some 7-8 miles plane area not too far from the cave ly negotiate the rubble restriction. It is away. entrance, approximately 100' long, was considered nothing short of a miracle Turner and five other cave divers heavily inundated by rubble and silt, that all six divers were not caught deep were in the Spring at the time of the which completely covered the line and in the system when the geologic reversal. Four of the divers were al greatly restricted passage. !Rspite this, cataclysm occurred. ready at decompression, and noticed a both Gavin and Turner slowly but suc In addition to his many important sudden severe silting at the mouth of cessfully negotiated this now very dif leadership roles in the NACO, Turner the cave. Turner and his dive buddy, ficult, wide bedding plane in zero was the Cooniinator of the NSS-spon Bill Gavin, were more than 1000' back visibility and without a permanent line, sored Woodville Karst Plain Project, in the system on their way back from a although, following established emer and Coordinator of the Underwater 7-hour dive, when the sudden flow gency procedure, they had deployed a Speleology Unit for Aorida State reverse took place, sucking in an enor safety line. University. He will be greatly missed mous amount of rubble and debris Unfortunately, due to the extreme by the ca~iving community and is down the slope of the basin and restriction caused by the syphon rubble, survived by a daughter. • entrance cavity. the divers were separated, and Turner Observers on the surface reported tragically ran out of air before finding
PARKER TURNER: IN MEMORIAM by Dennis Williams cNss #18261>
n September, 1982 I was helping to stayed for a week. After a some equip the class Remipedia in Quebrada for her I staff a NAUI instructor course being ment changes and a few warm-up to add to her studies. Jill and I had first held at the Aorida Institute of Tedmol dives, I took Jeff Bozanic on a Lucayan found remipedes during the late '70's ogy. A young California instructor Caverns 3,000' rinky dink that must in Lucayan Caverns. By 1984 Jill had stopped by to see how we East Coast have made that "suspended" sleeping remipede specimens from several caves guys ran an instructor course. In addi bag seem like being in his mother's in the Bahamas, the Canary Islands, and tion to being a NAUI instructor, this guy arms. Jeff, the rock climber, became a Turks and Caicos. The Mexican karst was a technical rock climber, someone cave diver. seemed a likely place for this oar-footed who had figured out how to enjoy the In 1984 Jeff was vacationing on speedster of open cave to live. We night in a sleeping bag held high above Cozumel when he found the cave sys found a lot of world-class biology in any reasonably sized horizontal surface tem now known as Quebrada. He and Quebrada, but no remipedes. by a piton crammed in a crack. When I went to Cozumel that same year and After a couple of years of ''hanging he found out that I was a cave diver he began the exploration of this remark around" with me, Jeff had gained too said I was crazy. My response was to able system. Cave diving biologist Jill much weight to rock climb; however, I invite him to visit me in Freeport. Yager was just beginning her Ph.D. pro had certified him as an NSS.CDS cave When the instructor course was over he gram, and we had hopes of finding a diver and he was on his way to being showed up on Grand Bahama and cave-adapted crustacean belonging to an influential member of the cave-
Vol. 18, No. 6 • November/December, 1991 • UNDERWA"ffiR SPElHxAx;y • 3 diving community. In February, 1986 he called me from California with the news that he had just finished teaching a cave-diving course to four guys in the Yucatan. It seemed that during the training dives in Car Wash, Jeff had failed to notice that there were remipedes swim ming around! After the course was over and Jeff had left Mexico, his stu dents found and collected what they thoughtwereremipedes. They had just called Jeff with the news and he wanted to know if I was interested in a collect ing trip to the Yucatan. That same day I called Washington D.C. and cancelled a visit to Freeport which had been planned for that week by Bill Hart, a curator at the Smithsonian. I explained to Bill that there might be remipedes in Mexico. 'IWo days later, Jeff and I met in Cozumel and set up our equipment with the help of Bill Hom of Aqua Safari. Bill Hom was (and still is) an in dispensable part of our Mexican re search. (He is also is a damn good arm Dennis Williams, Roger Werner, Mike Madden, and Parker Turner wrestler.) The next day, we took the on Andros. Photo by Dennis Williams. early morning ferry across theCozumel Channel to the mainland. We then went south by taxi to meet the new cave Frank died, but wanted to start again. submerged caves. divers who thought they had found Well, there were remipedes in the We finished up the year by spending Jill's famous crustawm. Yucatan, and there was gold in Parker an entire month on South Andros in the The inside of the taxi was the home Turner. I decided that this guy was Bahamas. The Brits had asked fill and base of a squadron of Quintana Roo something else. Parker was bigger than me to go to Andros in 1987 to do the mosquitoes which breakfasted on me. life and had the ability to think. His biology for a little get together they had As the taxi approached theCedamDive thoughts were to change me, change planned. However, it became clear to Center, I wondered if I still had enough cave diving in Mexico; in fact, he was me that since oil money was paying blood pressure to walk. Once out of the about to effect all of cave diving. Be some of the expenses, geology, not biol taxi and standing on my own, I met two tween the time of diving with Frank ogy, would lead the way. Looking for of the four divers from Jeff's class. I said Martz and Jeff's course, Parker had cave-adapted animals in a water-filled hello for the first time to Mike Madden been a business man, a competitive kick cave after a geologist has been in there, and Parker Turner. boxer, and the Lotd knows what else. is like looking for flying insects in a sand Parker Turner . . . Who is this guy After my first meeting with him in storm. that sounds like he is using someone Mexico, as we stood talking on the edge When I asked Parker if he wanted else's voice? He just got cave certified, of the Mayan jungle, there was one to go to Andros a year early to help do yetsaysheused tocavedivewithFrank thing that I was certain of-he was the biology, he said yes. Four guys Martz. committed to cave diving. For the next went to South Andros: Parker Turner, As we moved out of the Mexican five years he was to do little else. Mike Madden, Roger Werner, and I sun into the shade of a palm tree, I Parker and I did a lot of diving what a time we all had. I set up a field nodded knowingly about Frank Martz together in 1986. In June we were back biology lab in an old Haitian shack with while trying to sort out this time warp. in Mexico exploring Quebrada on one light bulb hanging from the ceiling, Let's see, Martz disappeared in a South Cozumel, and Car Wash and The and the four of us went cave diving. Andros Blueholein 1971 while working Temple of Doom on the mainland. Parker, a red-blooded North American, with George Benjamin. Parker looked During this trip, Parker placed three of took pride in the scientific work we ac like he was in his mid thirties; so if he his big aluminum safety signs into complished that month. was telling me the truth, he had become caves on Cozumel and several more Parker's sense of humor was too dry a North Florida Cave Diver while still aluminum signs went into caves on the for some folks; others believed that he in his teens. Sensing my confusion, mainland. This was some of his first had none at all. late one night in the Parker explained that he had not been work in what was to become an out Yucatan, he and I were at an outdoor certified; he stopped cave diving after standing effort to improve the safety of bar drinking rum and Cokes, and dis- 4 • llNDERwAll:'R SI'ELFDLoGY • Vol. 18, No. 6 • November/December, 1991 russing life. It was a tenific scene: a promoters of safe cave diving in the was wrong. We sat stunned in a dark Caribbean sea breeze worked its way world. The year I was Chainnan of the kitchen. through the palms; our bartender un NSS.CDS (1981 ), I did some work on For the last three years, Parker had derstood how rum and Coke should go safety and have worked with many worked at Aorida State University as together; and Parker was telling me other cave divers who have an unques the Coordinator of the Under Water stories. We had been there an hour or tioned commitment to safety and Speleology Unit. This position was so when something the size of a small education. I have been to several inter created by Greg Stanton, Director of the bat flew into one of those blue-light national cave-diving meetings and Academic Diving Program at FSU. bug-zappers. When the hissing and have cave dived throughout the world. Parker was one of the first to get paid crackling started, Parker had just pick I have met few divers outwardly more for what we all love to do-cave dive. ed up his glass; he paused patiently committed to safety than Parker Turner. By teaching Greg Stanton, Dr. larry until it was quiet again and said, It was 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, March Abele (Dean of the College of Arts and "Casual electrocution of insectoids," 23, 1991. My alarm had just gone off Sciences at FSU), and many others from and then took a drink. My feelings for and I headed for the shower. Then I the academic community to cave dive, insectoids aside, he still makes me drove from Melbourne, Aorida to Tal Parker helped to bring laugh. lahassee, where I gave a one-hour lec the research The 1987 Diving Equipment Manu ture at FSU that started at 10:00 a.m. community safely into the submerged factures Association (DEMA) conwn When my talk on "Cave Diving for cave environment. Dr. Able has told me tion was held in las Vegas. I helped to Science'' was over, I drove back to Mel that he feels the scientific community man the NACO booth, and what a bourne--a 10-hour commute for a one owes an incredible debt to Parker for his booth it was. Parker's touch was there hour lecture. Only Parker Turner could contributions and his commitment to for all to see. In the booth there was a be behind this. I did it because he safety. custom-built backdrop with chrome asked. Parker gave the 9:30 a.m. With this in mind, Aorida State spotlights shining on several of the new presentation to this Underwater University has established The Parker NACO safety brochures. The safety Speleology class. It was titled ''Diver A Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund. handout, using two divers to show the Impact" He outlined some of the en This money will provide support for a equipment differences between open vironmental changes that cave divers graduate student doing resean::h in un water and cave divers, was perfect for have caused in the Yucatan Cenotes. derwater speleology. The scholarship the OEMA crowd. Parker's business He described a horror story of will exist in perpetuity and will be sense worked well in Vegas. broken speleothems, water-chemistry awarded by a committee representing In the fall of 1987 Parker asked me changes, and rare cave-adapted crus the NACO, NSS-CDS, academia and to take part in a cave-diving safety semi taceans being eaten by fish that use the other friends of Parker. All contribu nar on Cozumel. Parker had helped to cave divers' lights to see their meal. Jill tions are tax deductible. put together this meeting in order to and I had watched this same thing hap I am really going to miss this guy educate local government officials, pen in the Bahamas during the early named Parker; the space he occupied in dive-shop owners, and the Mexican '&Ys. I had given a teary-eyed lecture all of our lives will take a long time to open-water guides about cave diving. about Diver Impact in Blueholes at the be filled by others. As larry Abele has It was held in the museum auditorium Cozumel Meeting in 1987. Then, in put it, Parker could irritate the dickens and was very well attended. One of the 1991, Parker was telling us that cave out of you while you couldn't help but highlights was the presentation of a pla divers had not yet figured out how love him. My guess is that Parker never que to Ram6n Zapata. Senor Zapata fragile and special this environment allowed himself was the first diver into the caves at Par was. to think mud\ about how important he was to us. que Chankanaab on Cozumel, and is By the time he was finished, I was I think a lot about how very for probably Mexico's first cave diver. teary-eyed again. Then Parker in~ tunate I 1988 found Parker, Bill Gavin, and duced me, and when I shook his hand was to have known him. Now, me on the island of Bonaire in the Dutch I understood that he had joined the bat when I dose my eyes, I can see one of West Indies. Parker had planned this tle to protect the environment of the those big aluminum cave-diving safety trip to look at some water-filled caves submerged cave. I started my talk by signs in place at Indian Springs. It reads: that the local open-water divers knew telling the class that cave environmen ''WARNING- THIS CAVE WILL about, but had not yet dived. I was talists could have no better person on OCCASIONALLY SWAUDW ONE along to look at the biology. Bonaire their side than Parker Thmer. OF 1HE BESf OF US." was good fun. I had never dived with Not too long ago the phone rang; it Bill Gavin before, and Parker had put was midnight. On the way to answer Please send your contributions to: together a well-run initial exploration it, my wife, Alexandra, said that it trip. would be bad news. She always says Parker A. Thmer Memorial I found a couple of crustaceans, new that if the phone rings after some mys Scholarship to science, swimming in those shallow tical hour, but I have never believed her. c/o Annette Weglinski caves. Parker worked on educating the Jill Yager was calling from Ohio. Mike Aorida State University dive-shop owners and guides about Madden had just called Jill from College of Arts and Sciences B-155 cave-diving safety. By then, I believed Mexico. Parker Turner died today Tallahassee, R.. 32306 • he was the one of the foremost while cave diving in Indian Springs. I
Vol. 18, No. 6 • November/December, 1991 • l.JNol;xwA'IH{ SPEun.oGY • 5 THE SAFETY LINE
by Wendy Short (NSS #30802). Safety Coordinator South
s the end of the year approaches, • Dedicateyournextdivetopracticing • Don't dive beyond your level of it's time to think A about making safety procedures. training or ability, and don't en New Year's resolutions again. Many • Try to rome and go through the cave rourage others to do so. resolutions only last a few days or with no signs of your passing. Be weeks into the New Year (if you're especially ronsiderate if people are Some people think New Year's lucky). They are usually made in the behind you. resolutions are made to be broken, but midst of celebration or the next day • Review all your equipment and try to make some recovering from celebrating. Either upgrade or repair it as neassary. resolutions this year way, they are not thought through • Set a good example by following the that you can keep and that will make dearly or realistically. safety rules. you a safer and more skilled diver. H So take the time now to ronsider • Be ronservation minded. Don't you cannot keep any of these resolu some cave-d.iving resolutions. For leave trash, trespass, or damage the tions, trygivingupcavedivingand take those of you who draw a blank. here property surrounding the cave, even up raising chinchillas. • are some suggestions to ronsider: accidentally.
LOST BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE
hanks to the generous response of NSS Cave Diving Section ing, as requests must be processed and 1976-Volume 3 No's. 1, 2,3,4, 5 1977-Volume 4 CELEBRATING OUR No's. 1, 2,3,4 lOTH ANNIVERSARY!! 1978- Volume 5 No's. 1, 3 As a big "THANK YOU/" to each and every one 1981 - Volume 8 of you who helped make it all possible: No.1 Our Fight to Beat Inflation! - Rolled Back to 1981 Prices! Single Tank 1982 -Volume 9 Fills - $2.50 - Double Tank Fills - $3.75 Brand-new addition of our No.5 50 cu. ft. compressor providing certified pure air - giving us the largest air station in all of North Florida It's worth the driue for the sawd time 11nd money! - to miiXimiu your diving! With this issue that you are reading, Vol. 18, No. 6, we are now able to offer River/Springs 29' Pontoon Boat excursions to Troy Springs a rompletesetof thefu1118 yearsofUn under the watchful eye of our boat Captain, Bob McGuire, Sr. derwater Speleology, 6 issues per year Let us capture those breatht11king diues em video for the memories of a lifetime! (volume). $10.00 Day Trips continue to be the best bargain around and The price for back issues is $2 per try one of our Night Bar-B-Que Dives! issue, which includes postage and han Cavern and Cave Classes always available! (Air furnished) dling. Ust the issues you desire (give Branford Dive Center • P. 0. Box 822 • Branford, Florida the volume/year [make sure these 32008 7 Days a Week • Phone!FAX (904) 935-1141 match!) and numbers) and send your Gene&: Jerri Broome check or money order to: 6 • UNIEMT..mR 5PEu:oLoGY • Vol. 18, No. 6 • November /De:ember, 1991 RECOVERY TEAM AREA COORDINATORS by Capt. Henry Nicholson elow is a copy of the list of tain the area lists. h 904-786-6363 B Recovery Diver Coon:iinators and Upon implementation of the new w 9()4...63(}1062 or 604-630-2991 their respective area locations. The Area Coon:iinator Ust, the new policy listed names are only the contact person will require the NCIC Operator to give Mailing Address: for a specific area and not a total list of the agency requesting recovery divers H. W. Nicholson available recovery divers. It is the only the names of the respective Area :B27 Hyde Park Cir. responsibility of the Area Coon:iinator Coon:iinator(s). 1bis will streamline the Jacksonville, FL 32210 to establish and maintain a current operation and place more responsibility availability list of qualified recovery on the Area Coon:iinators, who will Qualified cave divers who have divers and resources in his/her area have a currmt knowledge of available taken the NSS-CDS Rescue/Recovery The list below is the only list that qualified recovery divers in their area. Course should contact the Area Coor the NCIC (National Crime Informa H there are any changes or correc dinators in their region and provide tion Center) Operator will maintain. It tions to be made to the list, each Area them with their currmt address and all is solely the responsibility of the Area Coon:iinator should contact me at the telephone numbers. Coordinators to establish and mai~ following phone numbers and address: Thank you for your cooperation. RECOVERY DIVERS AREA I COORDINATORS Sheck Exley h 904-362-7589 Paul Heinerth w 813-863-6911 (North Florida) Rt 8, Box374 8109 New York Ave. h 813-862-2486 Uve Oak, FL 32055 Hudson, FL 33567 Dive Rite Mfg. w 904-752-1007 Mark Leonard h 904-752-1087 Lunar Hires h 904-755-5913 AREA 2 COORDINATORS AREA 4 COORDINATORS Rt 14, Box 136, Lake City, FL 32055 (W&st Florida) (Carlbb&an Ar&a) John Bwge w 904-492-2232 Branfon:i Dive Center w 904-935-1141 Joe Prosser w 305-592-3146 11711 Chanticleer Ct. h 904-492-2232 Gene Broome h 904-935-0146 7400 N.W. 55th St h 3QS-966.0619 Pensacola, FL 32507 P. 0. Box 822, Branfon:i, FL 32Cm Miami, Fl. 33166 TELEX 803956 JBPNS Ginnie Springs w 904-454-2202 Jim Coke w 5-2-987-22211 Wayne Mci Vol. 18, No.6 • November/December, 1991 • UNDBM'A~ SrEuDux;y • 7 CALIFORNIA KANSAS, MISSOURI, CANADA ARKANSAS Jeff Bozanic w 714-846-5220 Maj. K David Sawatsky, M.D. Dave Porter w 913-823-2753 P. 0. Box 3448 h 714-846-4100 h 416-638-2058 h 913-888-0094, h 913472-5325 Huntington Beach, CA 92605-3448 #41 Wild Gingerway h 416-635-2079 10801 W. 99th St North York, h 416-635-2000 Overland Park, l A SINKHOLE CAVE IN by Edward Stoner n 1988,notwantingtomakethelong with the refreshing feeling of water system. Two friends of mine asked me I haul to north F1orida from Orlando, entering my wetsuit. After our equip to dive this local sink. It could have I dove a local sink with my wife, lliUse. ment safety check and 5-Drill, we found been the mountain that kept me from This dive had been planned for some ourselves floating through the cavern, saying yes on the spot. But I did give time. Both Denise and I worked as part my reel laying lineeffortlesslyas we de directions on how to locate this sink to time instructorsat a local dive shop, the scended deeper in to the darkness of the my friends about a year ago. At that owner of which had certified both of us sink. We detected evidence of a subtle time one of them was investigating a as cave divers. He gave us the location current as we approached the Junction couple of new primary lighting systems and orientation to the downstream sec Room. We followed the downstream and I recommended someone who tion of this system. finding the sink restriction, then passed through a low could custom build him a unit. After wasn't easy and encompassed a trek tunnel where we entered the main discussing a custom light, a down into the woods that lasted until noon. phreatic system. Again, we were cave stream dive was planned. A trip to north F1orida would only have diving. this time at home. Now, in order to protect the privacy taken four hours. An efficiency expert After two mini-circuits, turning on of theindividualsinvolved, their names in time management, I am not! air calculated for this siphon, we have been changed. On Dive One, Jerry Upon finding the sink came the returned to the cavern. Our decom and Sam ventured to the terminal room proverbial statement from my wife, pression was short: 11 minutes. Resting to a penetration of 1067'. A couple of "You've got to be kidding! Do you atthesurface,lookingupatthesky,only days later Dive 1Wo found Sam, Mary think I'm going to get doubles down one thing was going through my mind, and I doing the downstream run. Dive into that hole?" She was right; on our that the next 20 minutes would prove Three upstream found Jerry and Sam first dive I took her doubles down. that there are mountains in F1orida. digging out the restriction that keeps While dropping 50' down the edge of That was three years ago. most cave divers from venturing in this the sink, covered with slick day, hold The next five dives took place in a direction. ing on to a knotted rope, her words of 30-day time frame during 1991. What At this time 1 would like to describe encouragement-"That-a-boy, sweet happened in this short period gives the condition of the last room upstream. heart!"-rang in my ears. food for thought concerning the This room, about 50' by 100', was in But my struggle was soon forgotten stability of the upstream portion of this pristine condition with no signs of 8 • UNDFRWATIR SI'ELEoLOCY • Vol. 18, No.6 • November/r:h:ember, 1991 pristine condition with no signs of had burst through the floor on the side time the ceiling was percolating lime diving activity in the past few years. of this big room. The silt on the leading stone the size of quarters, marking the The floor was velvety smooth with no edge was that of a pcrfcctcrcscentmoon cave floor. l noticed a suprrised look silt disturbance. Dive Four found Sam about 8' in height, peaked at the top to coming from Mary-then Sam. A rock and Mary again digging through the a fine razor's edge. Its texture was that the size of a large van was in the room. entrance restriction and venturing to of a pure velvet dress in a rich amber A white limestone dome over it made the last room. This time it was noted hue. a shocking contrast to the black ceiling that the floor was pock marked. Golf Ever so gently our team traversed above. Tree roots were seen sticking out ball-size depressions had appeared the room close to the cave ceiling so as of this white dome. After a moment the throughout the room and trails of fall not to awaken the sleeping beauty. realization struck me that this huge rock ing ceiling percolation lay along the Trust me, narcosis was not upon me, as had fallen after last week's dive. curved sides of the walls. ourdepthin this room wasonly60'. We An air check, then a tum around Dive Rve ... "Now for the rest of glided on through a small restriction was called. l approached the restriction the story." This was my first dive that opened to a very large room. A "T'' before the others, and I was now the upstream. The day started fine: my in the line went straight up into a huge lead man. It looked okay, as if we could truck was rear-ended on Highway 434 dome in the ceiling, calling for explora pass. The debris on the floor was equal in Longwood. One hour later, with a tion. No one gave a signal, but the to that of a few orange crates. We took goose egg on the back of my head, I ren team, thinking as one, ascended over a our time going out, but visibility wasn't dezvoused with Sam and Mary at the natural bridge formation to the dome all that bad in the main rooms. dive site. Mary is a sight to behold; she above. Awesome! I had never seen so The exit restriction was just as bad can't weigh more than 100 lbs.; her many fossils of complete vertebrates as before-last one in, first one out eats doubles cover 90% of her body as she decorating a cave before. Here were the the silt of the whole team. One hour walks down my mountain. I'm 45 full skeletal remains of prehistoric had passed. I felt good; as a whole it yearsold,Iworkoutthreetimesa week, turtles and opossum-like creatures. was a great dive. If I ever go upstream put 60 miles a week on my bicycle--so There were sea biscuits as big as my again, it will only be to the dome room. why is my face so red? Oh, well! hand,and my mind was tryingtodoru The cave appears to be stable to that Now I've been through my share of ment the site before me. point, but beyond the chimney-never restrictions but come on folks, this was I caught an "OK" signal and again! Sam has related his findings to side-mount country! The shape of this returned it on the wall before me. A Jerry, and with conditions as reported, restriction was like an hourglass. Slow quick air check and we descended to Jerry said he wouldn't go back to the ly, I let all the air out of my wings; venture on. We were flying, gliding, up last room again. visibility was at zero. Using hand-to through a chimney into a craggy low Now for a sad note. You can drive leg contact, we progressed inch by inch. restriction-like tunnel on our way to the up to this sink today. Back in 1988 you As I got to the tightest area the team last room. The room was just ahead. I had to haul yourequipmentin. The use slowed, each one knowing our prede saw Sam up front, and Mary was just of this sink by open-water divers is evi termined touch signals. I had to force entering the nx>m . But what was going dent. Two weeks again a truck drove myself about 2" into the floor, my tanks on? Who was behind me? Someone up with two divers. I asked if they were against the ceiling as I exhaled to move was grabbing my legs with great going to dive. One said he was a cave forward. strength! My God, could an open diver, the other, a cavern diver. I in Finally I was clear, I was on the other water diver have secretly followed us spected their equipment, all of it new side. I gave the leg signal for the three up to this point and now be in a panic open-water equipment, with not a of us to hi tour inflators. Slowly we rose state? But it couldn't be, as I always scratch to be seen! Only one light each, out of the gloom into cobalt-blue water. check the cave behind me. My legs and not even one line reel. I took the From here on we would be in an ad were pinned to the floor! As I spun diver recovery manual out of my truck vanced, very technical cave dive. I around, I didn't like what I saw. Heavy and asked them if I should call the knew our capabilities, that the three of silt scattered the rays of my light. morgue before or after their dive. us could glide inches above the floor, Through this cloud, rocks were falling Recently someone installed a 1 /2" with not a sign of our presence ever likerainonme. Acavein! Ipulledhard nylon rope from the surface all the way showing. If I hadn't known my and freed my legs. Still it was raining to the permanent lines. If that someone partners' abilities, I would not have rocks in the low restriction. is reading this, I want to thank you for been there. I was surprised at how calm I was. the new rope in the back of my pickup! Another 50' and we broke out of the My heart rate had gone up before I real Due to this pressure, Sam and I are low ceiling. The next sight took my ized what was happening. But now it going to move the permanent lines back breath away! I had never thought of silt was out of my hands. I needed to get into the cave zone. We will soon be in as a thing of beauty. Never had I heard outmyslateand inform Sam and Mary. stalling a stop sign. On a good notE, in my talks with fellow cave divers of But no! Why should l? I would wait. Sam just discovered a virgin passage anyone raving about beautiful silt for We were in the last room now and with many new rooms downstream. If mations. My heart skipped a beat; I Sam tied off a safety line. As we you would like to read more about knew my buoyancy was good. I dared traversed the room, Sam noted its con these new areas in future articles, write not scar the sight in front of me. A deep dition. This time the silt was marked or call me. Refer to your membership spring vent over years and years of time with even more craters. At the same list for address and phone. • Vol. 18, No.6 • November/Da:cmber, 1991 • UNOORWATER 5rELEoLoc;y • 9 BOOK REVIEW: The Darkness Beckons, by Martyn Farr Review by Bill Mixon (NSS #5728 Fellow) The Darkness Beckons. 'The History and Development of Cave Diving. Martyn Farr. Diadem, London; 1991. 280 pages hardbound, 8 x 10 format. £22. (Published in the United States by Cave Books, St. Louis, MO. See below.) artyn Farr has expanded and discoveries or records every few by diving could have used some due M updated the earlier, 1980 edition months. as to which of the passages are under of this book, and it has doubled in size. Nearly every page contains a black water, however. He covers the history of cave diving and-white photograph, and there are Most cavers know far too little of the from Norbert Casteret's free dives in about four dozen color photos. The story of cave diving, and they should 1922, through early dives with equip maps, many of which are extended read this book. In fact, I would recom ment that fed air to the diver from the profiles of sumps, together with very mend this fine book to anyone, caver or surface, and on to the days of re clear writing, make is easy to follow the not, who likes to read about breathers and modem scuba equip explora often lengthy history of cave diving in ment Rebreathers recycled the diver's tion. The frontiers of underwater-cave various caves. The successive air, and only a small amount of oxygen points of exploration today are as challenging, if had to be added to replace exhaled carlr furthest penetration are clearly marked. not more so, as the conquests of the sea, on dioxide that was chemically ab The very small-scale maps of major mountains, and arctic, and the history sorbed in the apparatus. They were, cave systems that have been integrated of cave diving is happening now. • however, rumbersome and unreliable, and by the middle sixties they had been entirely superseded, even in Britain, by the familiar scuba tanks. Ironically, modernized rebreathers are today being considered for very long or deep dives, where the waste of air inherent in scuba is a serious obstacle. The maprity of the book is about British cave diving, which is covered in considerable detail. This coverage is amazingly up-to-date; it includes the connection between the I 10 • UNDERWATER 5ParoLOGY • Vol. 18, No. 6 • November/IRcember, 1991 THE WORLD'S LONGEST UNDERWATER CAVE PASSAGES by Oliver Knab he following is a list of the world's • The length measurements were • If a traverse dive was made (e.g., T 19 longest underwater caves rur made with guidelines made of either King Pot to Keld-Head) two groups rent as of August 6, 1991. nylon, perlon or steel wire. of divers can explore the cave pas All of the caves listed meet the fol • The indicated length refers to the sage from both entrances. lowing specifications: guideline length, which must not be • In the case of underwater cave sys in the middle of the passage. tems, the length given is the distance • 'The indicated length (given in both • All listed submerged passages are between the surface and the nearest meters and feet) represents the dis without natural airbells or surface exit point tance from the beginning of the entrances. • 'The same rule applies for T-sumps phreatic cave zone (in sumps, where • 'The cave passages have been dived with two different exit points. the ceiling meets the water) to the by cave divers. Parts of sumps • The dive routes are the shortest nearest surface or return point of the which have merely been sounded or routes between two surfaces. divers. viewed are not listed. meters X 3.2808 =feet feet x 0.3048 = meters E A I ? c I I 1 T V =SURFACE B l ? <--D D 1 I 1'\ = INCAVE Rank Oltegary, Name and Location Meters Fed Explorer and Source 1. B Doux de Coly, France 4050 13,287 0. Isler, Switzerland personal rommunication G.D. 2. B Cathedral Sink, Horida, USA 3291.8 10,800 S. Exley, USA NACD Jounuzl, Vol. 23, No. 2, p. 34, Jan. 1991 3. B Chips Hole, Horida, USA 3169.9 10,400 S. Exley, same as tf2. 4. D King Pot- Keld Head, England 3050 10,(X)6 R Carter, J. Cordingley, G. Crossley, R Skorupka, G. Yeadon, personal rommunication, J. Cordingley, England 5. E Sullivans Sink- 2590.8 8500 B. Main, B. Gavin, L English, P. Twner, USA Cherry Sink, F1orida, USA NACD Jounuzl, Vol: 20, No. 1, p. 1, Jan. 1991 6. B Source de Bestouan, France 2460 8070 M. Douchet, France Info Plongre, No. 56, p. 4, 1991 7. B Manatee Springs, F1orida, USA 2342.4 7685 B. Main, B. Gavin, USA Personal Communication, S. Exley 8. B Covol dei Veci, Italy 2340 7677 0. Isler, Switzerland Info Plongre, No. 54, p. 26-7 9. E Luraville - Telford Spring, Horida, USA 2194.5 6743 T. Morris, W. Jasper, L Hires NACD Jounuzl, Vol. 21, No. 6, p. 69, Nov. 1989 10. c Ho~ySink,F1orida,USA 2055.3 6743 S. Exley, C. Pitcairn, USA Personal rommunication, S. Exley 11. c Cocklebiddy Cave, Sump 2• 11970 6463 R Allum, P. Rogers, H. Morrison, Australia Info Plongre, No. 47, p. 19 • From last airbell to first airbell (sump length 2550m), Ref. Cave map, RA Vol. 18, No. 6 • November /I.'kcembet; 1991 • UNOERWA~ SPa.BJLOGY • 11 12. c Emergence de Ia Bourne, Sump 3, France 1880 6167 0. Isler, Switzerland Info Plmtgre, No. 54, p. 234, and No. 29, p. 4 13. D Source du Ressel, France 1865 6118 0. Isler, Switzerland Info Plmtgre, No. 55, p. 9-12 14a. D I INSTRUCTORS TAKE NOTE: State Parks to Stop Accepting Pink Forms cting Training Chairman Lamar registration forms as proof of certifica issuance of temporary certification A Hires has announood that Horida tion. Instructors should advise their cards, which are available. lamar State Parks an! going to stop honoring students of this and contact lamar if Hires- Bus. phone: (904) 752-1087, Res. the pink carbonless copy of student they have any questions regarding the (904) 75~5913. • A WEEK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MARTEL by William R. Halliday, M.D. {NSS #812 Fellow> n October 1991 I had a wonderful Pass from Paris to Brive, where we pick roads, heading generally toward the week in the I cave country of southern ed up a Hertz car. From Brive, lascaux prehistory center of l.es Eyzies. French France, seeing some of the world's most II was only a short drive. This is the ar roads an! good, with signs at every little famous caves, springs and speleologi tificial replica of "the Sistine Chapel of intersection. But usually the signs indi cal museums. As a result of the prehistoric art" At first glance it ap cate only the next village. Even for Jac heartwarming help of Ja Vol. 18, No.6 • November/December, 1991 • UNDERW...uER Sm.IDLoGY • 13 tion to the work of Martel, pre-Martel the Cevennes and the high Causses are spectacular limestone gorges. In the Austrian and Trieste speleological or (great limestone plateaus), we soon Gorge de I' Ardeche we stopped at ganizations are given credit here. In the came to one of the greatest of all: Aven newly commercialized Grottes de St. cave, monocrystalline speleothems, Armand. En route, we had a fine view Marcel, notable for a pre-commer aragonite clusters, helictites, shields of Porte Bonheur, a natural bridge that cialization cave restoration project. (palettes) and soda-straw stalactites arc eliminated a long meander ofits stream. Especially impressive here is a large ter notable. Some are on dipping schist The story goes that Martel took one race of big rimstone pools, cleaned out, beds. look down the preposterous entrance prettied up and beautifully illuminated. In this cave, we acrompanied a tour pit of Aven Armand and delegated the Then we were off to Pont du Card, a group of elementary school children. It 225' ladder descent to its discoverer, famous Roman aqueduct with nearby was interesting to hear them being ad Louis Armand. Struggling up the lad Grotte Prehistoriquede I' Agedu Renne dressed much like adults, and as der 4 hours later, Armand's remarks de la Salpetriere. Unlike Les Eyzies, we responsible cavers-to-be. Education were immortalized: "Superb! Mag found the latter fenced off very effec rather than entertainment was the clear nificent! More beautiful than [nearby] tively and deserted. I could not learn intent We observed this with another Dargilan! A true forest of stone . . ." anything about its saltpeter or school group in another show cave And so it is. manufactory. later, and also in another school group Martel himself descended two days Back in civilization now, we over intently studying roadcut geology. I later, with Armand Vire. America's nighted at a roadside hotel near L'Isle thing we have something to learn from Horace Hovey missed out. He was sur la Sorgue. The Sorgue is the river French educators and show-cave with the Martel team, but was ill and that emerges from the famous Fontaine operators. stayed in the village. Probably it was de Vaucluse, but I don't recommend We proceeded eastward, to Grotte just as well. It is doubtful that Hovey's that hotel. We visited the great artesian de Clamouse, Jacques' special cave. physical conditioning was sufficient for spring next morning. It is not very im Here are even more notable helictites, a ladder climb of such magnitude. In pressive at low water, but was dived by aragonite clusters, soda straws, and any event, below lay a single vast ver robot to a depth of about 1015' in 1985: vast chambers. I could have shot two tical chamber, about half of which is far below sea level. Some 400 swallets full rolls of film here, and not taken half studded with a huge thicket of strange have been traced to this spring, from as the photos I wanted. ~ ovemighted thin stalagmites with flared projections much as 60 miles away. Innumerable nearby, at a delightful country inn well like trimmed cauliflower leaves. This other solution features open high in the known to the caving community: Hos stone forestisoneof the truly great spec natural limestone amphitheater above tel 5t Benoit tacles of the entire world of caves. the spring. Next morning we veered north Every caver should experience what Along the walk from the village cen along the scenic Herault River to Grotte Louis Armand first saw. ter to the spring is the Norbert Casteret des Demoiselles (Fairies), entered by a Overnight was in the surprising Ll Speleological Museum, displaying funicular. After a series of small pas Riche Hotel in the town of Ales, Casteret's equipment in realistic set sages and rooms, visitors enter a huge, definitely recommended although tings. Also on display is his speleothem splendidly decorated chamber measur parts of the road through the Cevennes collection, which really should be out of ing about 400' by 250' and some 150' seemed below West Virginia standards. sight, as a study collection, rather than high. The illumination is excellent. Especially at night in full view where it encourages others Martel was herein 1884,1889,and 1890. Next morning we continued to collect Otherwise, the museum has Still farther north is the Abime de through the Cevennes to the Aven d' a good conservation message, and sells Bramabiau, site of a remarkable under Orgnac Originally explored by Robert notable biospeleological postcards. ground stream which was the location de Joly rather than Artel, Orgnac is al We drove back to Avignon, turned of some of Martel's most famous ex most the equal of Aven Armand in its the car back to Hertz and caught a TGV plorations, beginning in 1888. Even at forest of odd-looking stalagmites up to train which sped us back to Paris non low water, the roar of the waterfalls up 75' high. Some are flattened and are stop, in 3-3/4 hours. But as we sped which he dragged boats is impressive. termed "piles of plates." They occur in north, my thoughts turned to what we Speleothems are few, but nodules of a larger chamber than Aven Armand, had Nar seen: more than a hundred baritejutoutinto the passage like chert. in a lengthy cave which contains a show caves, some of them almost the In one unilluminated section of high, greater variety of beauties including equal of the greatest we had visited. narrow passage, my flashlight revealed subaqueous calcite crystals, extra-thin And other great chambers described to an open barite geode originally about a helictites and much more. This is us by Jacques, known only to cavers. foot in diameter, with classical barite anothermustforcaveconnoisseursand We had not even entered the great cave crystals. Besides the show cave, we was a proper climax for a climactic trip. areas of the Alps nor the Pyrenees. We visited the upstream sink and the first Although we still had a lot to see, will have to return, hopefully for more karst window along the course of the from here it was all downhill, figura than a week. But even a week in the underground stream, not open to tively and mostly literally. We visited company of a Jacques Choppy in the visitors. Through trips involve wading the beautiful limestone natural bridge caves of southern France is truly an un in up to 4-1 /2' of water. Jacques has called Pont d'Arc to check out phreatic forgettable experience. • done it twice. cavities in its abutments shown on a Continuing north into the fringes of 1971 postage stamp of France. Nearby 14 • UNDERWAlER SPEU.oux:;y • Vol. 18, No.6 • November/December; 1991 ON THE LIGHTER SIDE • • • Commando Diver Specialty by Steve Berman ue to the increasing number of LECTURE CAVE DIVES D cave-diving sites being closed, it • Discussion of various county or • Swim 50 yards through dense hy is time for the NSS-CDS to offer a new dinances on trespassing drilla with no light type of specialty to meet the needs of • Statistical evidenCE of the number of • Two illegal cave dives incorporating the cave diver of the '9CY s. The Com court convictions and/or fines for techniques of the Commando Diver mando Diver Specialty brings the various counties needed training and knowledge to the • Technique for cave diving in the qualified cave diver who desires to visit STEALTI-1 mode EQUIPMENT some of the more pristine cave-diving • Method of communication which • Black or Camouflage wetsuit/dry- sites that are unfortunately dosed. blends into night sounds suit • Black stage bottle OBJECTIVE LAND DRILLS • Black duct tape • Make two clandestine dives into • Crawl 50 yards through heavy un • Black spray paint private or state-owned caves with derbrush while making minimal • Large wire cutters out being detained by authorities noiseand wearingdouble104'saro • PoliCE samner pushing a stage bottle in front of you • Cash deposit for bail purposes PREREQUISITES • Climb 10'-high chain-link fenre • Full cave level with at least 100 caves while wearing double 104's dives • Exit a moving van and become com RECOMMENDED TEXT • Attorney that can be reached during pletely hidden in underbrush in • Soldier of Fortune • the middle of the night under 15 seconds, while wearing full • No past aiminal record cave-diving regalia CAVE DIVING MANUAL \ A fhen the final outstanding dlap tremendous financial support from our predation A very special thanks goes V V ter was received last month, we members and business sponsors. Con to veteran cave-diving explorer and in printed themanualoutinitsentiretyfor tributions have been pouring in from all structor Tex 0\alkley, of Oc:ala, florida, the first time and were swprised when over North America, and we have been for his very special gift of $UXXl. it dodced in at a whopping 460 pages! very moved and proud to see the list of Our press date has been pushed -fully half again as large as we had sponsors grow. There have been a back some becauc;e of some of these originally projectOO. ample of especially generous contribu new developments. But we look for Opinions are somewhat mixed as to tions from a couple of lifetime sup ward to having the book in hand short whether it would be better to apply the porters of cave diving, for which words ly and will announCE its availability methods of the Slash aro Bum School cannot express our gratitude and ap- immediately. Thank you all!! • of Editing, or to allow the rich detail and redundancies to remain, so that each chapter will essentially stand alone. In IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS any event, the editors are extremely pleased with the high caliber of all the DAN - Dlv&rs Al&rt N&twork chapters and spedal appendix material 919-684-8111 submitted. (In addition to the decom Diving Medical Assistance pression tables, we havesomeveryu~ ful field marts for \bl. 18, No.6 • November/December, 1991 • UNOORWATER ~ • 15 uws 17:4 RECEIVES NSS GRAPHIC ARTS SALON HONORABLE MENTION ongratulations!-to UWS Vol. 17, C No. 4 (July I August, 1990) editor, Harry Averill, and front-cover artist, Joanna Florio-Jefferys. This fine issue, with a beautiful glossy black-and-white rendering of Joanna's artwork, set in Harry's impeccable design, was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Non-Photographic Category of the Graphic Arts Salon held at the 1991 NSS Convention this summer. This is Joanna's third ribbon for Honorable Mention for her artwork ap pearing on the cover of Underwater Spelevlogy, and we are fortunate once again to have her beautiful pen and ink wash of the ... dubious joys of being a sherpa for sump divers. This issue will President of the FCDA - Future Cave Divers of America. be appearing in the 1992 Salon. • Photo by proud father Mark Barstow. Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society, Inc. NON-PROFIT A1XJl!fO/it scienfic and e6Jcaima/ argnzafal lfiCO{Tized by ,.,IRS ORGANIZATION P.O. Box 950 • Branford, FL 320()8.0050 U. S. Postage PAID Nokomis, FL Permit No. 91-148 Forces Services Branch Ontario Provincial Police Steve Hudson w 404-764-1437 PENNSYLVANIA P. 0 . Box803 h 404-764-2296 90 Harbour Street lafayette, GA 30728 Clark Pitcairn Toronto, Ontario M7A 2S1 Canada h 215-357-8137, 215-357-8167 Meadowbrook, PA 19046 John Pollack w 604-352-6200/6274 215448-2432 (mountain home) INDIANA RR #1, Site 12, h 604-359-7341 Comp. 40, South Slocan, Noel TEXAS Sloan, M.D. w 317-929-5255 British Columbia VOG 2GO Canada • 8715 Garden Rock Ct. h 317-845-8821 Jim Bowden h 512-9284727 Indianapolis, IN 46256 P. 0. Box 49461, Austin, TX 78765